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New grant scheme:

Young researchers from abroad are headed for Norway

A total of 155 young international scholars will soon take their places at research institutions throughout Norway. The hand-picked group is the first to receive grants under the Yggdrasil programme, the Research Council's new mobility programme that provides funding for research stays for international Ph.D. students and younger researchers.

"The objective of the Yggdrasil programme is to make Norway an attractive research destination for highly qualified international Ph.D. students and younger researchers in all subject areas," explains Thorbjørn Gilberg, head of the Research Council's International Scholarship Group. At the same time, the programme will strengthen the individual Norwegian research communities involved by giving them access to highly qualified individuals in their respective fields.

Broad geographic distribution

Three young people (Photo: Shutterstock) The Yggdrasil programme received 291 applications in response to its first funding announcement. The grant recipients come from 23 of the 25 countries encompassed by the scheme. Their grant periods last from one to ten months.

The largest group of Yggdrasil scholars this year comes from the United Kingdom (24 researchers). Other countries with more than 10 grant recipients are Italy (17), the Czech Republic (13), Russia (12), Poland (10), Germany (10) and Spain (10).

Quality is paramount 

The University of Tromsø in wintertime. The University of Tromsø in wintertime. "In the assessment process we give priority to the applicants' qualifications and project descriptions and to what they want to achieve in Norway," says Mr Gilberg. "We also look at which institutions they want to visit and what opportunities exist for expanding cooperation between Norway and the applicant's home country."

This year NOK 13 million was awarded to the Yggdrasil scholars. Two-thirds of those selected are currently pursuing doctoral degrees and one-third are post-doctoral researchers. The grants are fairly evenly distributed among women and men.

Mathematics and natural sciences on top

This year's Yggdrasil grants are distributed among the various disciplines as follows:

Mathematics and natural sciences: 32 %
Social sciences:   26 %
Humanities:    25 %
Technology:     9 %
Medicine:     4 %
Agriculture and fishery science:   4 %

The Yggdrasil mobility programme

  • Allocates individual grants with a duration of 1-10 months.
  • Is targeted toward Ph.D. students and younger post-doctoral researchers.
  • Covers 20 European and five non-European countries:
    Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Expansion of the programme to encompass additional countries is under consideration.
  • Is open to all subjects and disciplines.
  • Requires applicants to secure a letter of invitation from a Norwegian research institution.
  • Next application deadline: February 2010.

Read more about the Yggdrasil mobility programme
 

 

 

Written by:
Siv Haugan/Else Lie. Translation: Connie Stultz/Victoria Coleman
Published:
 15.06.2009
Last updated:
10.01.2012

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Grant recipients 2009

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